Illinois unemployment dips to 8.8 percent

CHICAGO -- Illinois' unemployment rate dipped to 8.8 percent in September.

That's down from a rate of 9.1 percent in August. And the Illinois Department of Employment Security says the seasonally adjusted figures reported Thursday show Illinois' unemployment rate has fallen 10 times in the past 13 months.

IDES says Illinois added 13,800 jobs in September, and Director Jay Rowell calls the news "encouraging because it reinforces the trend of continued job growth."

The department says last month's job gains were driven by the areas of professional and business services, as well as the leisure and hospitality sectors.

The U.S. unemployment rate for September stood at 7.8 percent.